266 PER U. 
On the 19th, at an early hour, some vagabonds, assuming the name 
of Chilians, went the rounds of the village, helping themselves to 
every thing they desired, to the utter dismay of the inhabitants, who 
made no resistance. The consequence was, that having neglected 
to supply themselves with bread the evening before, they lost the 
opportunity of doing it. This was a serious inconvenience, for 
Obrajillo supplies the upper country with bread, as Lima does the 
lower, and it is procured with difficulty, except at these two places. 
Potatoes were therefore taken as a substitute, though a very incon- 
venient one, from their great weight and bulk. 
They were on their route by six o'clock, and an hour's ride brought 
them to a spot where the river formed a very picturesque rapid, soon 
after which they entered into a wild and romantic pass between steep 
acclivities and precipices of immense height. 
At ten o'clock they reached Culnai, a distance of five leagues ; it 
contains about thirty cottages; its height is believed to be ten 
thousand feet above the sea, and here cultivation ceases, ending with 
the potato, Tropaeolum, Oxalis, and Basella. The second region of 
plants also terminates here, and now ensued the " Paramera," or 
pasture region of the Andes, avoided by the inhabitants of the lower 
districts on account of the cold. This third region comprises a set of 
plants which make a gradual transition from those of the second 
region to low alpine scraggy bushes, none of which exceed two feet 
in height. The Paramera is remarkable for a dense sward of coarse 
grass, and low herbaceous plants, principally of the order Composite. 
The flowers of the latter, it was remarked, were particularly large in 
proportion to the plant. These form a rich pasturage for the flocks 
and herds, which are seen feeding in the valleys and along the sides 
of the hills. 
No cultivation was attempted beyond Culnai, and but two species 
of Cacti were met with above this. 
They had hitherto for the most part followed a northerly direction, 
but now they diverged more to the northeast. The temperature was 
falling as they ascended, the air was clear and bracing, and the 
scenery as they advanced became more interesting, and even sublime. 
To its wild and precipitous features was now added the high snowy 
peak of La Vinda in the distance, and some few spots of snow were 
occasionally seen in places sheltered from the sun's rays. The mule- 
path had become narrow, and when they met with mules, which was 
often the case, it became necessary to turn under the rocks, until the 
